Immediate Family

About David Lewis Arquette

David James Arquette is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and former professional wrestler. A member of the Arquette acting family, he first became known during the late 1990s after starring in several Hollywood films; including the Scream trilogy.

Arquette's early childhood was not spent like most American children. David, along with his parents and four other siblings lived several years in a commune. Not an unusual arrangement for such an artistic family. David's mom taught acting classes and for a time ran a children's theatre. His father, Lewis Arquette, joined the cast of The Waltons in the later part of the series. And his two sisters, Rosanna and Patricia, are also thespians.

Some time at the end of the 70's, David Arquette's family left the commune and moved to Los Angeles in order for his father to be closer to where the work was.

David attended Fairfax high school, and on the prompting of his sisters, and with the prospect of making some money, David decided to try his hand at acting, auditioning and winning a part in a school play. He was a bit disillusioned to discover he would not be paid, but the acting bug seemed to have bitten him good. He went on to gain work in "paying" parts in television series as The Outsiders and Parenthood.